[2][3][4] The program was a version of an activity at Japanese universities, the gaman taikai or "endurance contest", where students try to outdo each other in withstanding unpleasant experiences.
A very short-lived British version of the show was also created, hosted by Paul Ross, but it did not feature the extreme conditions of the original program.
with a Japanese lead character, Akira Suzuki, who was made fun of by his British friends using the word "endurance".
[6][7][8] In series two, Tara O'Connor replaced Olivia Stranger as the host (the 'Gong Banger'), while Chris Sievey[9] (previously seen as Frank Sidebottom on the TVS shows No.
The show did not feature the extreme conditions of the original program, with the games being similar to ones shown on ITV's Love Island, and so the British version saw little success.